November 4, 2011.  Recommended by Amy E. Hutchens, CCEP,General Counsel, Vice President Compliance & Ethics Services, Watermark Risk Management International, LLC, A Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business published in Virginia Bar Association monthly newsletter or www.vba.org
Governer Bob McDonnell helped launch The Virginia Bar Association’s campaign in 2011 for Veterans Legal Services Month. At a well-attended kick-off event at McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond on November 4,  the governor, whose oldest daughter completed an Army tour of duty in Iraq, called the VBA’s effort “a critically important initiative. We are grateful that the VBA would take this on as a pro bono opportunity. Keep up the good work.”

Of Virginia veterans, some of whom have answered the call to serve in war zones multiple times, McDonnell said, “They are American heroes, offering life and limb for the cause of our country. We need to treat veterans well.”

During the month of November, in honor of veterans, the VBA Veterans Issues Task Force will seek to:

• increase the number of Virginia attorneys who participate in the VBA’s Veterans Pro Bono Volunteer List,
• promote awareness of veterans’ issues and their legal needs, and
• raise funds to benefit Helping Military Veterans through Higher Education, (or HMVHE). HMVHE is a consortium of at least a dozen Virginia colleges and universities across the state that are coordinating their schools’ resources to assist Virginia’s veterans and military servicemembers with their legal, medical, and veteran benefits needs.

Update since last year

Last year’s Veterans Legal Services Month increased attorney participation in the VBA’s Veterans Pro Bono Volunteer List by more than 75 percent. Since then, more than 30 veterans have requested legal assistance through this website. Recently, we have been receiving cases from the Wounded Warrior Programs at Fort Belvoir and Fort Eustis. These programs support veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who were wounded in combat and are being medically separated from the service. Many of these service members have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Returning from combat is difficult enough, but returning with these and other life-altering injuries creates unbelievable stress not only on the veteran, but also on their families. These veterans and their families need our assistance.

We also raised in excess of $25,000 to support the Veterans Benefits Clinic at the William & Mary Law School. Those contributions enabled the clinic to assist more than 300 veterans and their families and carry an active caseload of more than 40 files. There are any number of ways to raise money and spread the word, but contributing in exchange for the privilege to wear jeans to work, to in-house competitions to cook-offs and other contests.

With your help, we will exceed those successes in 2011. Volunteer now. Donate now. Remember our veterans